Foreign Property News | Posted by Shwe Zin Win
I couldn’t afford to buy or rent a house so I moved into an abandoned school – and it’s perfectly legal
A MUSICIAN who couldn't afford to buy or rent a house has moved into an abandoned school - and it's perfectly legal.
Max Armfield lives in the remains of a primary school in South London after struggling to get anywhere in the capital's property market.
(Max Armfield lives in the remains of a primary school in South London.Credit: Deadline) (The 24-year-old is one of around 20 people holed up in the building.Credit: Deadline)
The 24-year-old is one of around 20 people holed up in the building and has converted one ofits rooms into a space to live and create new music.
The school was permanently closed in September 2022 after moving to a new £9.25m site.
In a video detailing his new home, Max can be seen playing basketball in the school'splayground.
He revealed the highlights of living in the school building - along with the hardest parts. Max said: "I just moved into an abandoned school in South London because rent prices are so high.
"It's definitely pretty strange sometimes because all the toilets and sinks are knee height because this used to be a primary school. "I think there's around 20 people living here too who are a similar age to me and everyoneseems to be doing pretty creative stuff.
"I mean it's the only place in London that I was able to set up a studio and the guy in the room next to me has ripped up all his floorboards to create a photography space.
In a follow up video uploaded yesterday titled 'How I started (legally) squatting in a school', Max explains his move further saying: "This is how I started squatting in an abandoned school.
"Okay, so this is called a guardianship scheme where disused buildings are rented out at a rate that is slightly below the average for the area to stop people illegally moving into the buildings.
Max's room contains a large sofa, television, chairs, two guitars and a table with a computer and speakers which he uses to create music.
Max has even managed to use an adjacent room as a bedroom, which contains a double bed,side table and even a basketball hoop on the door.
